Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

Staying True to Myself from the Pews to the Stage

"That's how people know me and my sound, because I bring in something different from anyone else." ~ 59%

What a perfect title for PJ Morton's new memoir! Saturday Night Sunday Morning is a new released book by the accomplished entertainment executive, musician and artist with a unique sound. PJ Morton is the rare artist that straddles religious and secular music lines, racial and cultural identities and combining his two worlds of the pews and stage.

PJ Morton shares his influences in life, from his dad to church, gospel groups, second lines in New Orleans, piano teachers, bands and more. The first section highlights his early and most important influences. The second section begins with memories as a student of the prestigious St. Augustine High School. Known for its academic excellence and many successful alumni, it reminds me of the high school I graduated from (Cass Tech).

"Once I believe something, if I can see how all the pieces fit together, I won't question it." ~ 31%

Morton goes on to talk about Morehouse, a very public bad breakup, finding new yet familiar love and starting a family. The rest of the memoir goes into great detail of his music career. The most interesting tidbit I learned was PJ Morton's connection to Mack Maine, president of Young Money Entertainment, his introduction to Maroon 5 and the bittersweet Super Bowl moment. Bookhearts, this is the PJ Morton you may know. Yes, that Black dude in Maroon 5! This is the part I looked forward to reading most. It took a while to get to that good part, but we needed the background and grass roots to fully understand his journey.

The blessings and opportunities that PJ Morton shares within his memoir are inspiring. I recommend reading Saturday Night Sunday Morning with access to your preferred music streaming service. Play the songs he mentions. Play the artists he name drops. Read the lyrics to his songs and get lost in the music while reading his story. There are a couple times where he references a topic but doesn't go further, yet he always came back to it eventually which I can appreciate!

Happy Early Pub Day, P.J. Morton! Saturday Night, Sunday Morning will be available Tuesday, November 12.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
Author: PJ Morton
Published: November 2024
Pages: 190
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Throne of Glass

(Throne of Glass #1) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"Still, it can't be pleasant to be one's own companion at all times." ~ pg. 155

My Series Sunday pick is Throne of Glass, the first book in the series of same name by Sarah J. Maas. In a land supposedly without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle where a vicious powerful king rules from his throne of glass. She is there to win her freedom. If she defeats 23 murderers, thieves and warriors in a competition lasting for 13 weeks, she will be released from prison to serve as the King's Champion. Say her name: Celaena Sardothien.

Celaena's fight for freedom turns into a fight for survival. Something evil dwells in the castle. Competitors start dying mysteriously, one by one. The Crown Prince will provoke and flirt with her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess will befriend her. So truly begins the story of Adarlan's Assassin.

"I read what I like." ~ pg. 237

The writing in Throne of Glass is very different from the writing in ACOTAR. Let's just say while I am impressed with the level of detail she put into it as a teenager and debut author, I can also tell she was a teenager and debut author writing this. Does that make any sense? It is less fantasy, less spice, less romance mingled with juvenile dialogue. I have to keep reminding myself that Celaena is only 18 years old. I can't very well expect her to pick up on everything right away but damn it is frustrating.

The world building though? Oh, SJM you have this is in the bag. I don't yet know how, or definitively if, the worlds of Erilea and Prythian connect. Guess I will continue...

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: August 2012

Pages: 436

Edition: eBook

Genre: Romantasy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"The shutters swinging in the storm winds were the only sign of her entry."

~ Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

The Ministry of Time

"One never understands one's use but through the opinion of others." ~ pg. 26

Boy meets girl. Past meets future. Finger meets trigger. Beginning meets the end. A recently established government ministry is gathering expats that were doomed for death anyway to test time travel. The expats are assigned a bridge for a year to help adjust to their new life. An unnamed civil servant works as the bridge to Commander Graham Gore. Through constant monitoring, living together and assisting with culture, the two characters form a bond and their relationship evolves into something deeper. Much like the real mission behind the ministry. 

WTDF genre is this?! The Ministry of Time is doing too much. It is a non-romantic rom-com. Fantasy in the 25th hour. Spy thriller at best. Historical sci-fi yet time travel to the future. A cautionary tale too. So it is my duty to caution you, my Bookhearts, that while I do not recommend The Ministry of Time, I am in the minority. A lot of people rate this book 3.5 stars or higher, give rave reviews, recommend it to all who will listen and is a national bestseller. President Obama lists The Ministry of Time as a favorite summer read. But me? Nope.

This new novel does not compare to the time-travel concept I have ever read or watched. Instead the author pushed her personal views, opinions and agenda into the minds of readers through the guise of fiction. There are messages within the pages that are not so subliminal. There are many missed opportunities with the plot and character development. We don't even know the narrator's name until well into the story. She's simply "the bridge." By the time I begrudgingly reached the last chapter, I didn't care enough to interpret the ending. The Ministry of Time is just an overall miss for me.

For a more detailed discussion, join the Sistahs Be Readin' Book Club on Patreon! See what the other Sistahs have to say about this month's selection.

Title: The Ministry of Time
Author: Kaliane Bradley
Published: 2024
Pages: 339
Edition: Hardcover
Genre: All 'em
Rating: 🖤 🖤

Life's Short, Talk Fast

"For years, I thought Gilmore Girls changed my life in that it allowed me to be my actual self, my earnest, bookish self, without embarrassment or shame." ~ 18%

Fifteen writers explore what Gilmore Girls means to them in this celebratory collections of essays. The classic contemporary television show bonded real-life mothers and daughters since 2000, when the premiere introduced us to Lorelai, Rory and the town of Stars Hollow. Almost 25 years later and Gilmore Girls is one of the most streamed TV shows ever.

Each of the writers share their personal relationship to Gilmore Girls through a short essay. The writers are diverse (married, single, divorced, old, young, middle-aged, black, Asian, white, male and female) making their experiences quite different. Almost all compare their own lives to Lorelai and Rory's life choices, love matches and family dynamics. The short essays lovingly center around a theme of what makes a home in that fast-talking, warm-hearted, quick-witted way.

"A girl who read everywhere." ~ 86%

What a lovely collection of essays to read. I nodded my head in agreement. Smiled at the many episode references. Teared up at the shared details of lovely mother-daughter bonds. The show revealed so much about ourselves, our mothers and our daughters. Ann Hood's anthology revealed why it matters. Life's Short, Talk Fast has sparked an interest to rewatch all 153 episodes of Gilmore Girls with my Mom. 

Bookhearts, I recommend Life's Short, Talk Fast for the fellow bookish girlies like Rory and the Lorelai fans. At just under 200 pages, this new book would be a great companion while you watch Gilmore Girls. While I didn't recognize any of the writers, I appreciated their stories enough to keep an eye out for their work.

Happy Early Pub Day, Ann Hood! Life's Short, Talk Fast will be available Tuesday, November 12.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Life's Short, Talk Fast: 15 Writers of Why We Can't Stop Watching Gilmore Girls
Edited by: Ann Hood
Published: November 2024
Pages: 196
Edition: Galley
Genre: Nonfiction Essays
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: In Too Deep

(Jack Reacher #29) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is In Too Deep, the 29th book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Jack Reacher wakes up alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. The little possessions he has are gone. He's slightly injured. He has no memory of getting there. The last thing he remembers is hitching a ride, getting run off the road and the driver was killed. The people who attacked have no idea who Reacher really is or how difficult it will be to make him talk.

"You're the perfect patsy." ~ 29%

The title gave it away! I love a clever title and relish the moment when it becomes clear. But don't let the title be a spoiler. Ugh! It totally took away from the thrill, the suspense, the climax and the unsurprising ending. I was already unenthusiastic about the story from the beginning because the beloved character of Jack Reacher has become painfully predictable. I can clock his movements before he can even blink now. It is getting so routine that I can practically outline the next book. I just need to go back to reading the older Reacher books because this new stuff is flat. 

Happy Belated Pub Day, Lee Child and Andrew Child! In Too Deep is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: In Too Deep

Author: Lee Child and Andrew Child

Published: October 2024

Pages: 336

Edition: Galley

Genre: Mystery

Challenge: Perpetual Jack Reacher

Rating: 🖤 🖤 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"Are you #TeamLogan or #TeamJess?"

~ Life's Short, Talk Fast edited by Ann Hood